Until recently, this JG mark was unknown, or attributed elsewhere. Then, a few years ago, Catherine Hollan published her excellent volume on Virginia silversmiths, and there the questions were resolved.

Made c1753-60 -- 2-5/8"-tall cylinder opens on hinged cover to disclose steel grater, name of original owner, E.Keele, and the name of his home, Sarum, which is still located on State Rte 234 near Newport, MD. Patterson's mark -- I (pellet) P -- is struck inside the grater's cap.

Until recently, Pattison was located in research books as working in Annapolis, MD, c1750. Then, Catherine Hollan published her work on Virginia silversmiths. There was Pattison, relocated to Fredericksburg...

Pinched-waist fiddle handle, pointed shoulders, script mono on front; 8-1/8" in length. Condition is fine. Mitchell is not listed in any of the books dedicated to Missouri silver. However, the 1860 census lists George Mitchell, age 41, as a jeweller, with a wife and 2 sons. Further, spoons have been collected which show both Mitchell's mark and his home town of Hannibal. Probably by this time, Sam Clemens would have moved east.

Downturned fiddle handle, sugarloaf shoulders, feathered script mono E L on front; 12-7/8" in length. Overall condition is fine. Mark is I.WELCH, as listed in Hollan's "Virginia Silversmiths." Fincastle, then as now, is a small town a tad northwest of Roanoke.

Pattern is early, c1830, single-struck on one side only -- short fiddle handle, common in Kirk's fiddlethread work; mono is AAC in a feathered script; length is 7-5/8", weight is just under 4 Troy oz. total. Tinewear most notably on the right side, otherwise condition is excellent.

Pinched-waist fiddle handle, pointed shoulders, script mono M L J on front; 5-7/8" in length. Condition is excellent, extended bowl tip unworn. Pinched-waist fiddles are not common in VA; Wright's proximity to TN & KY, where the style is quite common, probably had an influence here. See Hollan's "Virginia Silversmiths" for a full discussion of Wright and his work.

Peabody's spoons are distinctive in design --slim oval-end downturned fiddle handles -- nothing quite like them by other makers. This piece has flared shoulders and a short reverse rib. The mono is EB in a feathered script. Length is 5-3/8". Condition is near-mint. This is probably the same John Peabody who worked earlier in Fayetteville, NC. The spoons pictured on p. 125 of "Silversmiths of NC" are not at all similar in design to this piece.

Fiddle arms with flared shoulders, oval nips, feathered script mono L H A on bend; 6-1/4" in length. Good weight. Condition is excellent.
Marked on one arm G&H -- Gale, who manufactured the piece in NYC, and Hayden, who retailed the piece in Charleston, SC. Marked on the other arm with the date of manufacture -- 1846.